Through its high-density operation, commonly known as Operation Shanela, the South African Police Service (SAPS) arrested 14 165 suspects between Monday, 03 March 2025, and Sunday, 09 March 2025.
“Through Operation Shanela, the SAPS continues to take a bold and decisive approach in dealing with crime in the country. These crime fighting activities include tracking operations, roadblocks, high visibility patrols, stop and searches as well as tracing of wanted suspects,” the SAPS said in a statement.
All Shanela operations are led by the Provincial Commissioner of each province.
During the period, the following arrests were made:
- A total of 1 870 wanted suspects were arrested. These suspects were wanted for various serious and violent crimes such as murder, attempted murder, rape, carjacking, business and house robberies.
- A total of 185 suspects were arrested for murder, the majority of these suspects were arrested in KwaZulu-Natal (37).
- A total of 154 suspects were arrested for attempted murder, 72 more arrests than the previous week.
- A total of 235 suspects were arrested for rape, 96 of these arrests were made in KwaZulu-Natal.
- A total of 1 513 suspects were arrested for assault GBH during this period.
- A total of 166 drug dealers were arrested, the majority of these suspects were arrested in the Eastern Cape (43).
- A total of 2 176 suspects were arrested for being in possession of drugs, 650 more arrests than the previous week. The majority of these suspects were arrested in Western Cape (1 237).
- A total of 105 suspects were arrested for being in the illegal possession of firearms.
- Four suspects were arrested for human trafficking during this period.
- A total of 525 drivers were arrested for drunk and driving in the past week.
Under recoveries and confiscations, police registered the following successes:
- A total of 155 firearms were confiscated in the past week, 48 more firearms confiscated than the previous week.
- A total of 3 627 rounds of ammunition were confiscated; and
- 50 hijacked and stolen vehicles were also recovered during this week’s operations.
On Friday, 07 March 2025, the National Commissioner for SAPS, General Fannie Masemola presided over a drug destruction process in which R340 million worth of drugs were destroyed, this included cocaine worth R220 million seized during police operations.
General Masemola commended the vigilance and commitment of the Anti-Gang Unit (AGU) and Crime Intelligence officers in the Western Cape following the arrest of two suspects at a storage facility in Bellville, Cape Town.
The arrest of the duo, a man and a woman, followed the discovery of 50 000 mandrax tablets and an arms cache including three AK47 rifles and twelve 9mm pistols amongst other firearms
Also, a shipment of cocaine worth R6 million was detected and seized at OR Tambo International Airport on Tuesday, 04 March 2025. The drugs were concealed in boxes disguised as hair products.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the shipment was en route to France from Brazil via South Africa.
Police arrested a 37-year-old suspect for theft and tampering with essential infrastructure; the suspect illegally connected electricity. The team also seized 41 Eskom transformers worth millions in lost revenue during multiple operations carried out in Winterveldt, Erasmia and Diepsloot, last week.
“The police will continue with their operations by asserting the authority of the state to ensure the safety and security of all South Africans and visitors to the country,” the police said. – SAnews.gov.za
